Italian Beef Sandwich w/ Au jus

beef roast

🥗Healthier: lean beef

💰Cheaper: chuck roast

Lean beef has lower fat content, while chuck roast is more affordable.

provolone cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: American cheese

Part-skim mozzarella is lower in calories, while American cheese is often cheaper.

Start with a 3.5 pound bottom round roast.

Season the roast with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

Sear the roast in the pot until browned on all sides.

Remove the roast and add 1 small onion to the pot, sweating it for a couple of minutes.

Add seasonings: paprika, oregano, Italian blend seasoning, coriander, fennel seed, and black pepper to the onions and toast them in the fat.

Add 6 smashed cloves of garlic and toast for a minute.

Deglaze the pot with 0.5 cup of dry red wine and 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, scraping up the fond from the bottom.

Return the roast to the pot and add beef broth until it covers about halfway up the roast.

Bring the pot to a simmer and preheat the oven to 300°F.

Cover the pot slightly ajar and braise in the oven for 1.5 to 2 hours.

After 1.5 to 2 hours, flip the roast over and braise for another 1.5 to 2 hours, leaving the lid partially off to concentrate the liquid.

After about 4 hours total, check the roast for tenderness, ensuring it is tender but not falling apart.

Remove the roast from the pot and let it cool, then wrap it in plastic and refrigerate overnight.

Strain the braising liquid and refrigerate it to allow the fat to solidify on top.

The next day, prepare the hoagie bun by splitting it in half.

Chop mozzarella and provolone cheese into small pieces.

Toss colored bell peppers in olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and place them on a sheet pan.

Roast the peppers in the oven at 350°F until they soften.

Slice the chilled roast thinly using a mandolin or a sharp knife.

Warm the strained braising liquid in a pot to create the au jus.

Add the sliced beef to the au jus to warm it up.

Assemble the sandwich by placing the sliced beef on the hoagie bun, topping it with roasted peppers and cheese.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens